Raleigh Couple Arrested Over Alleged Explicit Photos Of Children "Charbel Hamaty stood before the judge Tuesday to face charges of first degree statutory sex offense and sexual exploitation of a minor. Authorities arrested his wife, Teresa, on the same exploitation charges for taking what they consider sexually explicit pictures that included a 2-month-old baby boy and a 6-year-old girl."
They negelct to mention it's only two pictures of the poor guy holding his newborn son to the camera for photos to send to his family.posted by Hilfy (15 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: without any pictures, there's nothing to discuss here is there?

I work with a Lebanese woman who knows these people very well and in fact teaches the six year old daughter Arabic. We were having lunch and he said that these people were some of the nicest she knows. From what the couples lawyer has said there are 2, that’s right, 2 pictures from the roll of film. One shows the poor guy holding his son up to the camera for a photo with the naked daughter walking up in the background. They had obviously just gotten out of the bath. I’m not sure what the second photo was but it was equally as innocent.

I’m so tired of the knee jerk reaction to such innocent things. I’d like to punch the punk at the pharmacy who reported this. I tell ya, if Bush wins this election that’s it, I’m going to be an Ex-Patriot very soon.posted by Hilfy at 11:34 AM on August 13, 2004

Back in Utah we'd have photo scavenger hunts - teams get points for photos combining different subjects and elements (cows, nudity, etc.). It was always interesting to see how far you could push it with the folks at the photomat before you got your film back with a note saying "We cannot process this film due to inappropriate content." A friend pretending to go down on the patriarch of the pioneer family statue was one memorable moment.

No offense to the situation that the Hamatys find themselves in, but this is the worst kind of FPP &emdash; a solitary local news link, a story you are personally linked to, and editorializing in contrast to the sole linked source.

Plus, I suspect there is probably more to this story than we are hearing from either side.posted by rafter at 11:43 AM on August 13, 2004

I’m going to be an Ex-Patriot very soon.

Hilfy, you could always just move out of North Carolina.
We are a divided country, afterall ;)posted by Peter H at 11:43 AM on August 13, 2004

Look, I'm no fan of Bush, but it's pretty wildly tangential to throw this random bit of small town controversy at his feet.

I don't (usually) blame the Bush administration when the phone company screws up or I stub my toe, either.posted by malphigian at 11:44 AM on August 13, 2004

Well you can blame Bush for problems with your other utilities, malphigian.

holy crap! so that picture my parents took with my brother and I in the tub, when we were small lads, is child porn? My parents used me for their own sick twisted purposes?

and, to think, i looked so happy playing with my boats. who knew that i was being abused?

and are there any parents out there without at least one picture that could be borderline child porn, based on this definition? posted by Stynxno at 11:47 AM on August 13, 2004

1) Haven't we discussed an almost-identical story before, or did I imagine that?

2) What the hell does any of this have to do with Bush?

3) If none of us has seen the pictures, what exactly are we supposed to be discussing?posted by dhoyt at 11:47 AM on August 13, 2004

I’m so tired of the knee jerk reaction to such innocent things

Umm, have you seen these photos? How do you know they are such innocent things?

There is a lot more to this story than this posted here, and this is an awful post for all the reasons rafter stated.posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 11:49 AM on August 13, 2004

Steve At Linnwood: could you please share the rest of the story? From the tone you take in your post, I assume you're intimately familiar with the details of the case.posted by mosch at 12:00 PM on August 13, 2004

This has nothing to do with Bush but I figured most would be able to read between the lines that I'm fed up with the country and the way it's heading in general. My mistake.

Steve:

No I have not but know and trust the person I spoke with implicitly. I guess that doesn't mean much these days and just adds to my desire to flee this country.

Oi. don't know why I bother.posted by Hilfy at 12:01 PM on August 13, 2004

None of the articles has enough information to have any idea if this arrest is overzealous prosecution, or well-justified protection against sexual abuse.

Implying that they are clearly guilty (as Steve at Linnwood did) or innocent (as Hilfy did) is irresponsible.posted by mosch at 12:07 PM on August 13, 2004

just adds to my desire to flee this country.

Yeah, because the US positively corners the market on stupid misunderstandings and puritanical behavior. Ever read international papers? Spent any time in small towns abroad? Noticed how backward AmericansForeigners Humans can be sometimes? The axe you're attempting to grind is looking pretty dull, and without copies of the photos, I think we're all at a loss here.

Oi, I don't know why I bother.posted by dhoyt at 12:12 PM on August 13, 2004

I don't believe there's more to this story than meets the eye. However, I have no way of knowing. That said, this comment:

No I have not but know and trust the person I spoke with implicitly.

Made me laugh. Not because I don't think you can trust some people implicitly, but because I know that even though I know that, you'd be surprised how people can dupe you.

I once dated a woman and years later ended up being interogated by CSIS (Canadian equiv of FBI) when it turned out she was a Russian spy. Some people are amazing liars. Trust me. :)posted by dobbs at 12:13 PM on August 13, 2004

No I have not but know and trust the person I spoke with implicitly.From what the couples lawyer has said there are 2, that’s right, 2 pictures from the roll of film.

You talked to their lawyer? You said the person that gave you the info had talked to the lawyer. Did this person see the photos?posted by thomcatspike at 12:13 PM on August 13, 2004

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